November 8, 2006 Edition

Kelsey Lewis (from left), Nick Tribble and Christina Busby distribute coins to Luke McQuay and other Hoxie students at the bank that was run by the seventh and eighth grade math students. Students earned coins through classroom work to be spent on items made in participating classes such as food, used books, T-shirts and jewelry.

A day in the Renaissance

Autumn Lassiter pours caramel over the apples for Kara Mullen to distribute to patrons of The Confectionery Shoppe provided by Ramthun's food production students.

Staff Writer
Amber Adams

Guests at the Hoxie Service Center were met with scenes from another time as Hoxie School hosted their annual Renaissance Faire on Oct. 25. The faire is part of the school's A+ Network program.

Students and teachers attending the faire, dressed in period costume as required, enjoyed a day of music, food and games from the Renaissance.

Melinda LaFever, of Searcy, returned this year with replicas of period weapons, clothing and tools. LaFever is an A+ follow along with Carrie Mae Snapp, the program coordinator at Hoxie.

Battle scenes were recreated for attendees by Renaissance re-enactors dressed in full armor. A group of students, led by Debbie Spangler of Walnut Ridge, performed Renaissance dances to period music. Spangler practiced with the students several weeks after school, teaching them the dances.

Students studied the Renaissance in depth, creating projects for the faire. Each of these projects, along with other class work, was a way for students to earn coins to spend at the faire.

Coins were distributed according to project grades. For example, an A was worth three coins, a B worth two. Coins were collected upon entering the faire at a bank run by seventh and eighth grade math students.

Several of these projects included making wares to be sold at the faire. Cheryl Ramthun's food production class set up a Confectionary Shoppe, selling period food.

Donna Pinkston's college psychology class set up a fortuneteller's tent. Used books, T-shirts, original artwork and jewelry were also sold by various school clubs and organizations.

Tami Watson's second grade class performed two plays, "Sleeping Beauty" and "Robin Hood." As a reward for their hard work they were the only elementary school students invited to attend the faire. Watson is also an A+ Network teacher